Select Surname ListNames. Origins. Stories. Find your surname

Names. Origins. Stories.

The surname
directory.

Explore family names, one letter at a time. Discover meanings, origins, spelling variations, and the sources that can lead you to your next research step.

Find your family name
An ever-growing reference
118surname profiles
4origin collections

A little curiosity goes a long way

Your next discovery starts here.

Search a name or choose a letter below.

Search published surname names. Apostrophes, spaces, hyphens, and accents are ignored when matching.

Starting with N

Showing 1–1 of 1 profiles

Reset filters
  • Surname profile

    Nielsen

    Patronymic

    The surname Nielsen is a Danish patronymic meaning "son of Niels." It is the most common surname in Denmark, comprising about 4 % of the population. While many Nielsens…

    Review pending Read profile: Nielsen

This directory includes published profiles. Editorial review status appears on each card. A surname can have more than one origin or formation type.

Another way to explore

How did a name begin?

A trade, a place, a parent’s name. Follow the patterns that helped shape family names.

From curiosity to discovery

Give your family story a starting point.

Learn how to follow names through records, places, and generations.

Explore research guides